Post or pole sinker



April 8, 1941. Q AGOSTINETQ 2,237,383

POSTOR POLE SINKER Filed April 22', 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Blauw-nm ADET-LETQ ATTGRNEYS.

pr 1941. G. AGOSTINETO POST OR POLE SINKER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 22, 1940 Eralzmmu Patented Apr. 8, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

The present invention relates to apparatus for placing or sinking posts, poles or the like in the earth, and the primary object of the invention resides in the provision of apparatus of this character whereby posts or poles may be set in the ground without requiring the usual digging of holes, such as by earth augers and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a. post or pole sinker in the form of 4a hollow screw adapted to be threaded into the ground and into which a post or pole is placed, the screw then being removed and leaving the post or pole in the ground.

A further object is to provide a post or pole sinker in which the earth is held away from the post or pole during the placing of the post or pole in the ground, and after which the sinker may be readily removed from its encircling position about the post or pole.

A further object resides in the provision of a post sinker embodying readily separable sections permitting easy removal of the sinker after the post has been placed in the ground.

A further object resides in the novel construction for the lower portion of the post sinker permitting ready removal of the sinker from the ground after the post is in place.

A still further object resides in the novel construction of the retaining collar for the separable sinker sections, providing a grip ring member engageable by a tool member for imparting rotation to the sinker.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specication and in which drawings- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the post sinker shown screwed into the ground and with the tool member for rotating the post sinker in position on the upper end of the post sinker.

Figure 2 is a transverse section thru the upper end of the post sinker and showing the manner of ratchet engagement of the tool member with the sinker.

Figure 3 is a perspective viewof the separable collar for retaining the screw sections of the sinker together.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section thru the sinker at a right angle to the plane of division of the separable sections.

Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged transverse sections on the respective lines of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal section thru the sinker with a post in place in the sinker and spreading the lower portions of the sinker so that the sinker may be unscrewed from the ground and removed from the post.

Figure 8 is a plan view looking at the inner face of one of the companion screw sections.

Figure 9 is a plan view looking at the inner face of the other screw section.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the detachable half of the retaining collar.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary plan view of the head end of the tool or wrench member.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary side View of the head end of the tool or wrench member.

Referring to the drawings in detail and wherein similar reference characters designate correspending parts thruout the several views, the letter A may generally designate the post or pole sinker and B the tool or wrench member for imparting rotation to the sinker. The letter C may designate a post or pole of any desired length.

The sinker A comprises a tapering longitudinally divided sinker screw 5 providing companion screw sections 5 and 'l separably retained in assembled relation at their upper ends by a retaining collar 8. The sinker screw 5 may be formed of either wood or metal and is provided with external screw threads 9 and has an axial opening Iii formed half in each of the sections 6 and 1. The upper end of the screw 5 is formed with a reduced cylindrical portion Il for receiv ing the retaining collar 8. Provided along the flat inner face of the screw section 6 at each side of the opening I0 is a series of lugs l2 which rit into recesses I 3 provided in the flat inner face of the screw section 'l for retaining the sections 6 and 'l in alignment.

The screw sections 6 and 'l are each formed with an upper or main body portion I4 and a lower or tapered tip portion I5 yieldably connected at their adjacent ends by a leaf spring I6 having one end secured in a socket Il opening at the lower end face of the main body portion i4 and its opposite end secured in a socket i8 opening at the upper end face of the tip portion l5. The mouth ofthe sockets Il are flared or widened as shown particularly in Figures 4 and 'l to permit the leaf springs I6 to flex when the tip portions l5 are spread apart. The ends of the leaf springs i5 may be secured in the sockets I1 and I8 by suitable pins 0r the like I9 whereby the confronting end faces of the screw portions It and l5 are slightly spaced apart. Projectingfrom the flat lower end face of each upper screw portion I4 are 'pins or studs 2U which t into elongated keyways or slots 2I in the flat upper end faces of the lower screw portions I5 whereby the companion screw portions I4 and I5 are keyed against relative rotary movement and twisting strain on the leaf springs I6 is prevented.

The axial opening I is of even diameter thruout the length of the upper screw portions I 4, but at its lower end within the lower or tip portions I5 tapers in conical shape as at I0' to a substantially closed lower end at the point or tip end of the sinker screw. As shown in Figure 4, the leaf springs I6 normally urge the tip portions I5 against each other and lateral yielding of the tip portions away from one another is permitted by the ared ends of the spring sockets I'I.

The retaining collar 8 for separably securing the screw sections 6 and l in assembled relation, comprises a pair of interlocking semi-circular collar portions 22 and 23 forming a band adapted to encircle the cylindrical upper end portion II of the sinker screw. One of the semi-circular collar sections, and in the example shown the collar section 22, is secured to the semi-cylindrical upper end of the screw section 6 as by suitable fastening means 24. The ends of the xed collar section 22 are turned outwardly forming a channel or hook ange 25 along each end of the section. The ends of the detachable collar section 23 are turned inwardly and form a channel or hook flange 26 along each end of the section 23 which have sliding interlocking engagement with the hook flanges 25 whereby the collar section 23 may be readily detached from the collar section 22 by sliding the section 23 axially of the collar. Each collar section 22 and 23 is provided with a series of spaced apart slots 21 forming grip openings for co-acting with the tool or wrench B in imparting rotation to the post sinker A in either direction,

Referring now to the tool or wrench B for imparting rotation to the post sinker A, the same comprises a handle portion 3D having a head 3| at one end provided with an arcuate series of notches or teeth 32. Pivotedl upon the head 3I is a hook-like jaw 33 provided with arms 34 which straddle the head 3I and pivotally receive a pivot pin 35. Extending from the arms 34 is a yieldable hook-shaped spanner arm 35 which is provided adjacent its free end with an inwardly and rearwardly extending ratchet tooth or pawl 3l. IThe end of the Spanner arrn extends slightly beyond the pawl 3T and terminates in a pair of reversely curved release fingers 38. A at leaf spring 39 is secured at one end to the handle 30 and bears at its other end upon the jaw 33 for normally urging the jaw toward the head 3|. The head 3l may be provided with adjustment openings 4U for the pivot pin 35 so as to adjust the wrench for post sinkers of various sizes.

In use of the apparatus for placing or sinking a post or pole in the ground, the screw sections 5 and 'I are assembled and held together by the separable collar 8. The wrench B is then applied to the collar 8 as in Figures 1 and 2 and the sinker screw 5 rotated for screwing the sinker to the desired depth in the ground. As shown in Figure 2, the wrench may be operated with a ratchet action in rotating the sinker screw; the tooth or pawl 31 engaging in the slots 21 of the collar 8 and co-acting with the notches 32 for imparting rotation to the sinker screw, while the reversely curved end fingers 38 of the jaw permit the end of the jaw to slide around the collar during the return movement of the wrench. After the sinker screw 5 has been screwed to the desired depth, the post or pole C is placed in the opening I0 as in Figure '7, whereupon the pointed end of the post or pole will ride down the tapering wall IIJ and spread the tip portions I5 with a somewhat hinge action at the leaf springs I6. The position of the wrench B is then reversed on the collar 8 and the sinker screw unscrewed from the ground leaving the post in place in the ground. The wrench is then removed from the collar 8 and the sliding collar section 23 slid axially of and detached from the fixed collar section 22 so that the screw sections 6 and 'I may be separated and removed from their encircling position about the post or pole C.

Thus it will be seen that novel apparatus of this character has been provided whereby posts, poles or the like may be set or sunk in the ground thru use of a hollow, split screw member having a substantially closed tip portion which is separated to permit removal of the screw member from the ground after the post or pole is in place.

Changes in detail may be made to the form of the invention herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. A post or pole sinker comprising a hollow externally threaded sinker screw embodying an upper body portion and a longitudinally divided lower portion providing companion tip portions, means yieldably connecting the tip portions to the body portion and permitting the tip portions to be spread apart, and a wrench engaging portion at the upper end of the body portion.

2. A post or pole sinker comprising a hollow externally threaded sinker screw embodying an upper body portion and companion point forming tip portions, a leaf spring connecting each tip portion to the body portion and permitting spreading of the tip portions relative to one another, means keying the tip portions for rotation with the body portion, and a wrench receiving portion at the upper end of the body portion.

3. A post or pole sinker comprising an externally threaded upper body portion having an axial opening, companion tip portions having external threads co-extensive with the threads on the body portion and a tapered axial opening, a leaf spring yieldably connecting the upper end of each tip portion to the lower end of the body portion, means preventing relative rotary movement between the body portion and the tip portions, and a wrench receiving portion at the upper end of the body portion.

4. A post or pole sinking apparatus comprising a hollow longitudinally divided sinker screw providing companion screw sections each embodying an upper body portion and a lower tip portion, means yieldably connecting the tip portions to their respective body portions, a collar separably connectingthe screw sections at their upper end, and a lever member having detachable engagement with the collar for imparting rotation to the sinker screw.

5. A post or pole sinking apparatus comprising a hollow longitudinally divided sinker screw providing companion screw sections each embodying an upper body portion and a lower tip portion, means yieldably connecting the tip portions to their respective body portions, a collar separably connecting the screw sections lat their upper end, and having a series of circumferentially spaced apart slots, and a reversible handle member having means for engaging in the slots to impari', rotation to the sinker screw.

6. A post or pole sinking apparatus comprising a hollow longitudinally divided sinker screw providing companion screw sections each embodying an upper body portion and a lower tip portion, means yieldably connecting the tip portions to their respective body portions, a separable collar at the upper ends of the screw sections for retaining the sections in assembled relation, and interiitting means at the adjacent ends of the body and tip portions for preventing relative rotation between the body and tip portions.

'7. A post or pole sinking lapparatus comprising a hollow longitudinally divided sinker screw providing companion screw sections each embodying an upper body portion and a lower tip portion, oo-actin-g lugs and slots on the screw sections for retaining the sections in alignment, a leaf spring yieldably connecting each body portion to its tip portion, means preventing relative rotation between each body portion and its tip portion, and a separable collar connecting the screw sections at their upper ends,

8. A post or pole sinker comprising a hollow longitudinally divided sinker screw providing companion screw sections each embodying an upper body portion and a lower tip portion, interntting aligning means for the screw sections, aligning sockets opening at the confronting end faces of the body and tip portions, a leaf spring secured in the sockets of each screw section and permitting lateral spreading of the tip portions,

lugs on the lower ends of the body portions and fitting in slots on the upper ends of the tip portions for preventing relative rotation of the body and ti-p portions, and a separable collar connecting the screw sections at their upper ends.

9. A post or pole sinker comprising a hollow longitudinally divided sinker screw providing companion screw sections each embodying an upper body portion and a lower tip portion, intertting aligning means for the screw sections, aligning sockets opening at the confronting end faces of the body and tip portions with the sockets in the body portions flaring at their outer ends, a leaf spring secured at opposite ends in the aligning sockets of each screw section, inter tting means at the confronting end faces of the body and tip portions for retaining the portions against relative rotation and permitting lateral spreading of the tip portions, and a separable collar encircling the upper ends of the screw sections.

10. A post or pole sinker comprising a hollow longitudinally divided sinker screw providing companion screw sections each embodying an vupper body portion and a lower tip portion, in-

tertting aligning means for the screw sections, means yieldably connecting the upper ends of the tip portions to their respective body portions, and a retaining collar at the upper ends of the screw sections embodying a xed collar section secured to one of the screw sections and a detach-able collar section having sliding interlocking engagement with the xed collar section.

11. A post or pole sinker comprising an externally threaded sinker screw having laterally yieldable tip portions, an axial opening thru the sinker screw and having a tapering lower portion, and a wrench engaging portion at the upper end of the sinker screw. Y

12. In post or pole sinking apparatus, a hollow split sinker screw, a separable collar encircling the upper end of the screw, and a handle detachably and reversibly connected to the collar for rotating the sinker screw into and out of the ground.

GIACOMO AGOSTINETO. 

